Broadway Arcade, Commercial building in Downtown Los Angeles, United States
Broadway Arcade is a commercial building in downtown Los Angeles located between Broadway and Spring Street, connecting two twelve-story office towers through a three-level glass-roofed shopping passage. The covered passage houses 61 retail spaces across its levels and is illuminated by a large glass skylight.
The arcade was built in 1924 by architects Kenneth McDonald and Maurice Couchot, replacing Mercantile Place, a retail alley that had existed for about 40 years. In 1932, radio broadcast towers were installed on the roof for station KRKD, transforming the building into a communication hub.
The building displays Spanish Baroque features with terracotta arches and twisted columns that reflect 1920s architectural tastes in Los Angeles. The Venetian-style bridge inside connects different levels and creates a distinctive spatial experience.
The building can be walked through and provides a sheltered route with good orientation due to the continuous glass lighting overhead. The levels are easily accessible without barriers to entry.
The building's roof housed historic radio broadcast towers that made it an early communication center in the early 20th century. These technological additions show how the structure's purpose evolved over the decades.
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